Classic Episode - Faith, Love, Hope

Today's classic episode is, Faith, Love, Hope. The Apostle Paul writes to the early church in Colosse to deal with the problem of holding on to old beliefs, rituals, superstitions and false perceptions. Or even worse, a corruption of the pure seed of the gospel truth about Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul through his pastoral heart, brings a timely reminder. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

The Apostle Paul writes to the early church in Colosse to deal with the problem of holding on to old beliefs, rituals, superstitions and false perceptions. As the church consisted of new believers from different faiths, philosophies and world experiences, Paul's concern was that a dilution of the truth could occur. Or even worse, a corruption of the pure seed of the gospel. The gospel truth about Jesus Christ. 

The Apostle Paul through his pastoral heart, brings a timely reminder to them. He commends them for their faith, love and hope. Let us begin the letter. 

Colossians 1:3-5 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Paul and Timothy give thanks to God for the faith in Christ Jesus of those early believers in Colosse. This faith is the same faith that is the armour of Yahweh, God Himself and was worn by the messiah, Jesus. 

This is same armour or shield of faith that the Apostle Paul instructs every believer to stand in or live in the truth of being immersed in, each and every day. The faith of Christ Jesus in the Father becomes our faith. It is the faith by which we have been saved. 

It is the same faith that Abel obtained a witness that He was righteous or correct before God.  As God testified of Abel in the acceptance of his gift. This faith is the same faith that Enoch lived in the knowledge that he pleased God. Noah by the same faith was made by God the heir of His righteousness.

Abraham was empowered by the same faith to believe and obey God. It was that same faith that Abraham's wife Sarah knew God was all powerful and faithful to fulfil all that He promised. Both Abraham and Sarah were well past the age of conceiving a child, yet Sarah bore a child who was the fulfilment God’s promise. 

God promised Abraham that from his seed would many generations be born. As many as the stars of the sky. 

From Abel through to Abraham, each one desired a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their god, their friend. For the creator of heaven and earth and all things good has prepared an eternal city for them. 

God continues to give that same faith to all who receive Him and His right to rule and reign. Give their total allegiance to Him. 

Moses by the same faith chose Christ's greater riches than all the treasures of this World. He left Egypt, passed through the Red Sea as if dry land and saw the invisible God. God spoke to Moses face to face as one does closest friend.  

By faith many of the patriarch's suffered persecution, yet the Bible tells us that they all are  overcomers. 

This faith, the faith of God imparted into us at the point of salvation, is the exact same faith we live in. Faith in God the Father and in Christ Jesus the Son. His faith in us. In Him we can trust. 

This faith stands in certainty of the work of Jesus Christ and acceptance of it. Where on the cross Jesus paid the cost of all offences ever said, thought or done. Jesus defeated death, evil and self. His Spirit within every believer testifies of Jesus, testifies of God the Father. In God’s  faithfulness we can trust. 

Paul and Timothy have been praying for them since they heard of their faith and their love for the saints. 

Love for one another in the community of believers, is the outworking of the faith in Christ Jesus. For it is His love that within us that flows from His faithfulness and love. His love is the evidence of God working within every believer. His faith, His character, His love.

The Apostle Paul often links faith to love and sees the love of Christ that dwells in us as the greatest testimony of His transforming work. Each day is a journey and as we surrender self will and drink His living waters, we are receiving more of His character. Out of His love in us freely flowing to others, the world will know that we are His disciples. 

The world recognises Jesus' disciples by His transforming work in us and the community of love that He establishes. A never ending cycle of love, receiving His love, giving His love to others effectively is loving God. With His Spirit within we are in a continual feast or banquet of God’s perfect selfless love. For this is who God is. He is love. God’s love is pure and selfless for their is no selfishness within Him.

That night when Jesus was betrayed, He shared His last meal together with His disciples.

After He had washed their feet, including the feet of His betrayer Jesus said in John 13:33-35 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The word Jesus used that has been translated as 'have' in the sentence if you have love for one another, means to have, own, possess, hold fast to and to be closely joined to a person. 

Jesus said by this, that is His love in us for one another, all will know we are His disciples. We are identified by His love in us, when it is an active force in our lives. His love cannot be contained, it is a never ending and is a rushing continuous flow from heaven. 

His love is perfected when given, received and reciprocated. Jesus declared that the Father loves Him as He also loves the Father, as He also loves us, as we love one another. A perfect, selfless, deep, unconditional love that the Father, Son and Spirit have for one another is ours to daily feast upon.  

It is a love that is relational, continually ever present and the motive of all God’s action. 

The godhead serves one another as a perfect one, pouring out their love to us. By His love in us, through His love flowing through us, we serve each other as one. This is not something we can manufacture. It is only through receiving His love, letting Him love and transform us by surrendering of our selfish desires, it will flow through to others. It is only by His love and in His love, that we can and will love one another. Together the entire body of Christ surrendered and one with Him.

The love of God is patient, kind, does not envy, is not prideful, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in injustice or wrongs, rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes, hopes and endures all things. This love of God never ever fails.

This is His love that He freely gives and pours into every disciple who choses to receive. His love for one another.

Each day is an opportunity to know Him more, closer and closer being transformed in His love.

Out of His faith flows His love

In verse 5 Paul continues to give thanks to God for the work He is doing in amongst them. It is because of God’s work and character we have the hope which is laid up for them in heaven. This is not the hope of wishful thinking. It is a hope that is full of confident expectation. That God is who He is. 

Knowing God more and more means we can know and experience this reality. Of living with  this confident expectation of what God has promised for now and the future will be our reality. 

This is the certainty in God and the truth of His gospel. Everyone who believes and receives Jesus has their name written in the book of life. In hearing the gospel truth and receiving it, a pure seed is sown into each heart. 

From the pure seed of the gospel truth, we can live in confident expectation that our eternity is assured. For we receive the identity of Jesus, the Son of God, who became the Son of Man. 

The Apostle Paul explains this in another letter. 

Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The hope we have has been given, is of God. He never shames us or disappoints. Only He can truly satisfy. 

It is the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts that motivates us. This statement is a certainty. The love of God has been poured out in Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself. So as we receive Jesus we receive the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God.  The continual pouring out of God's love is from the Father through relationship with the Son, by the Holy Spirit. It is an abundant, never ending supply. We simply surrender self will to that of the Father’s will and freely receive. 

Jesus is the source of faith, love and hope. Receiving the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ is receiving God Himself.

From receiving His truth comes the receiving of His faith. From His faith comes the receiving of His love. Being established in His truth and rooted in His love is a daily journey. 

Each day being transformed into His character receiving more of Him, we live in the present victory of the hope that we have been given in Him.

What already is revealed and experienced in Jesus, faith in Him and His love as an acting transforming force in this life, we live in the confident expectation of future certainties of eternal life.

If ever we wonder if Christ could supply all our needs we are reminded that our present experience of faith and love is based on the solid foundation of the gospel of truth and God's commitment for our future. Therefore we are confident of our inheritance based upon the confidence in Him. 

The Apostle Paul knew this when he wrote that hope never disappoints. He openly declares that we live in a world of tribulations or pressure, yet Paul rejoices through them. He knows victory is assured in Jesus as He promised in John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Regardless of our present circumstances, no matter where we are in our journey with God, we can stand and live in the reality of faith in Christ Jesus. For He has overcome the world. Jesus has overcome the injustices of this world including our selfish desires, evil and death. 

In a daily surrender of our self will to that of the Father’s will we are transformed and compelled by His love. For when we have a negative thought or selfish desire we can give it to Jesus. Breaking the control that they have over us. Our hope is not in our performance or work, it is in the hope of Jesus’ calling and work. 

The fullness of our salvation already exists in the spiritual realm. This hope that sustains us, is guaranteed and given by God, based upon His faith and love. 

Out of His faith flows love. Out of His love, flows hope. 

For there is nothing greater than the love of God. The Apostle Paul put it this way.  

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Let us pray> Father thank you that you have poured out your great love in everything you do. May we know and experience you and your love more and more. As each day we live in surrender to you, by your Spirit, may we be in awe and wonder of you. Touched deeper and deeper in our heart and mind, in Jesus mighty name, amen.  

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!